Scandalous Redemption (Ladies and Scoundrels #3) (15 page)

“Yes, love?”

“Will you call on me every afternoon?”

“You can count on it.”

“And at night.” She smiled coyly. “Will you sneak over and hold me as you did this night?”

“Try to stop me.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead.

SCANDALOUS REDEMPTION

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Claudia strolled beside
Henry, her parasol and bonnet shading her face. Much to her delight, he had brought her to Hyde Park this afternoon. She did exceedingly enjoy being out of doors when the weather permitted it. Today was a lovely day. Puffs of stark white clouds drifted across the crisp blue sky. Everywhere she looked, fashionable lords and ladies were enjoying the day. Some strolled as she did while others rode in carriages.

The park was near bursting with the crush of society’s elite. Many of their peers nodded at them as they crossed paths. Several stopped them to chat for a moment before moving along. Claudia inhaled a deep breath of the fragrant air, her spirits high. Not long ago she would have believed this scenario impossible.

“I thought we might feed the ducks.” Henry nodded toward the river.

“A lovely idea, but what are we to feed them?” She removed her hand from his arm as they came to a stop at the water’s edge.

“I have it in hand.” He smiled before waving one of the footmen who’d accompanied them forward.

The liveried man approached and handed Henry a bundle wrapped in brown paper. She could only assume it contained stale bread.

Henry turned back to her before opening the bundle to reveal she had assumed correctly. He held it out to her and she picked up a chunk, then broke off a small piece, and cast it into the river. He followed suit, and in little time, a flock of ducks moved closer, greedily swallowing up the bread.

One brave duck came out of the water and waddled near to her. “Look, Henry, this little one is almost close enough to touch.” She tossed it another piece.

“I think he likes you.” He smiled at her before casting another piece of bread into the Serpentine.

She laughed. “He likes my bread. Once it is gone, he will make haste to return to the water.”

“In that case, you had better take the rest of the bread.” He held the remaining bread out to her.

His generosity warmed her heart. Akford would have never made a similar gesture. He would have berated her for feeding the creatures in the first place. A chill tickled her spine and she shoved the thought away. She would not allow memories of him to ruin her time with Henry. “Thank you.” She accepted the bread and returned to feeding her feathered friend.

After tossing the last piece, to what transformed from one lone duck to several competing for her treat, she dusted her hands together and faced Henry. “Greedy little creatures, are they not?”

“We shall have to return with more for them on the morrow.” He chuckled and proffered his arm.

Before she could take hold, a large splash followed by a shrill scream split the air around them. Her heart froze as she searched their surroundings. She caught sight of a small child floundering in the water. Before she could think about her actions, she ran toward the boy planning to dive in after him. At the bank of the Serpentine, she slid to a stop with her heart in her throat and stared as Henry jumped in and swam with all haste toward the boy. Claudia placed her hand on her chest as she watched the scene unfold. Pray, let him reach the child before it was too late. He reached out, pulled the child to him, and towed the child ashore.

He hoisted the boy onto the grass before climbing from the water. She rushed to his side and dropped to her knees next to the small boy. “You are well now.” She glanced up at Henry for a moment, then returned her attention to the child. “Once you get on dry clothes it will be as if this never happened.”

The boy’s mother scooped him up. “I told you to stay away from the river. My poor baby, you could have drowned.” She peppered kisses on the top of his head and cheeks before turning to Henry. “You have my deepest gratitude. Thank you, my lord.”

Henry tousled the boy’s hair. “Any gentleman would have done the same.”

Claudia knew better, most of the
ton’s
men would have stood back, too afraid to make a spectacle or ruin their garments. Not Henry, he had sprung into action without a care for himself. As the woman carried her child away, Claudia took Henry’s arm. “You must get out of those wet clothes.”

He scooped up his hat. “I do apologize for wrecking the rest of our afternoon. For now, I will have to return you home and take my leave.”

Her heart swelled with pride at his bravery. “Never apologize for helping others in need. We will have other afternoons and we still have tonight.”

“Yes, we do have that.” He patted her hand.

Her stomach fluttered in anticipation as he handed her into the curricle. She could not stop herself from noting how very different he was from Akford. He did not seem to possess an ounce of orneriness. For a moment, she imagined what it would be like to marry him and raise children with him.

She immediately dismissed the fantasy. There would be no marriage. She was simply enjoying what time they had. She could not afford to be taken in by a few kind acts. It would serve her well to remember that appearances were often deceiving. She would not be so foolish as to drop her guard.

The curricle came to a stop in front of her townhouse. Henry jumped out, then reached up to help her down. When her feet met the ground, he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss atop her gloved hand. “Until tonight.”

She smiled.

* * * *

Henry lounged on Claudia’s sofa, the whimsical music she played on the pianoforte resonated in his soul. He could not name the song, but the melody evoked emotions of love and loss. He closed his eyes and let the music sweep him away.

When the music ceased he opened his eyes. “What was that song about?”

“I do not rightly know. Mother composed it and taught it to me.” Claudia tapped out a few more notes. “Do you play?”

“Indeed, though I fear my skills do not compare to yours.” He walked over to her.

She made room for him on the bench and he sat down. His thigh rested against hers in a most improper way, but he dared not put distance between them. He relished these evening visits and the intimacy they shared. He could only hope she would come to need his presence as much as he did hers. “I will play if you consent to sing.”

“Very well.” Her eyes sparkled brighter than any jewel he had ever laid eyes on. “I am told I have a passably pleasing voice.”

He played the first stanza of an Irish song. “Do you know it?”

She nodded. “
Robin Adair
.”

He continued playing. Either the minx jested or she had been lied to her whole life through. She sang with even more skill than she played. Her voice wrapped around him warming his blood.

He had no wish to strike the final key, for doing so would bring the end of her singing. Nonetheless, he brought the song to its conclusion. “You have the voice of a nightingale. I could listen to it for the remainder of my days and never grow weary.”

After three more songs, he placed an arm around her. “Let us move to the sofa. You can rest while I read.”

“I should enjoy that.”

She snuggled up to him as she had the previous evening. With her settled, he reached for the leather-bound book on the side table.
The Last of the Barons.
A pleasant surprise.

“I do hope my choice of reading material suits you.” She fluttered her lashes as she stared up at him.

“As it happens I am currently reading the same selection.” He opened to the place she had marked. “Only I am a few chapters ahead of you.”

“Do not give anything away.”

“I would not dare.” He began reading, his attention moving between her and the pages of the story. Ever so often, he caught her with her eyes closed, but most of time she watched him. Her attention did not unnerve him as he would have expected. On the contrary, it seemed natural, as if they had done this all of their days.

He read three chapters, then marked her place before setting the novel aside. “Now we are on the same page and can finish the story together.”

“A delightful suggestion.” She captured his hand in hers.

“You are an exceptional musician. Both your pianoforte skills and your singing are resplendent. What other talents are you hiding?”

“When I was young I used to dabble in art. Sketching and painting. Mother always said I was quite good at it.”

“Why did you stop?”

She frowned. “Akford forbid it. He said it was a waste of time and finances since I was no great talent.”

Anger unfurled in Henry. How else had the man berated her? He tightened his hold on her. “I wager he did not know enough to judge your skill.”

“It matters not. What is done shall not be undone.”

“Do you miss your art?” he asked with caution, not wishing to cause her distress.

“It is of no consequence. I have not held a paintbrush in years nor sketched the simplest thing. After all this time, I doubt I would be any good.”

“I would wager you are mistaken.” He lowered his head closer to hers and inhaled her feminine perfume. Vanilla and roses, a combination well suited to her.

“And what of you? Have you interests beyond horses and the pianoforte?”

“I am told my dancing is rather tolerable when I am not stepping on my partner’s slippers.”

In truth, he was not half as clumsy as he used to be. There was a time he would have wagered on the likelihood of stomping his partner’s feet. His dance master had all but quit him, insisting he would never polish his skills until he learned to be at ease around ladies.

She laughed. “Do be serious.”

“I assure you, I am.” He smiled down at her. “It happens far less now than it once did, but on occasion, I still misstep.”

“Perhaps you have not found the right partner.”

“Shall we put your theory to the test at Lady Sully’s ball?”

“I will save two sets for you.”

“And if I should step on your slippers?” he asked playfully.

“You will owe me a boon.”

SCANDALOUS REDEMPTION